My rainbow boy, John Milam Powell is FIVE today. I cannot believe it. A living-breathing answer to a prayer. Milam is bright, passionate, observant, and fearless. He loves his momma, cars, and of course, bikes. He's a snuggler and very hard worker. Milam, we love you so much. I cannot wait to see where life takes you!

Milam - Four Years

My boy is FOUR!  I cannot believe it. He us funny, bossy, opinionated, adventurous, and so smart.

I have no idea how much you weigh or how tall you are. You appear tall and thin to me but I would guess you're just a tab above average. You wear between a 4 and 5. You're in a 10 shoe.

You're so expressive and antagonize your sister constantly. You can get her going like nobody else.

You LOVE riding your bike. You are a registered BMX racer and currently have two bikes. One to ride and one to race. Because of covid you've yet to have a real race but you've had three practice races and won all of them plus you beat a 7 year old. All before you even turned 4.

You're really starting to get into your academic side more. So, in addition to knowing car brands you now know more colors, letters, shapes, and numbers and can write your name. "School" type of learning is still not your favorite but you're so smart. You are an amazing problem solver and so good at figuring things out. Too good to be honest. 

You love really big and are the most snuggliest of the three. I'm still your favorite person but you love your dad a lot too. When you're proud of yourself instead of a high five you always go in for a hug and it is so cute. You love being around all your people but you love having things that are all your own like school and speech.

My little buddy, it is such a blessing to watch you grow. You say and do the funniest things and keep me on my toes but I love you so much. Here's to you! Happy birthday!

Milam at 3.5 years

You have more life and energy in your little finger than any person I have ever met. You have so much personality and so much energy. You drive me absolutely insane most days.  I am just constantly putting out fires with you.  All day.

You are 38.9 pounds (88%) and no idea how tall you are. I think you're in a 9 shoe and wear mostly 4T clothes. Most days you will still give us a two hour nap if you just give into it.  You aren't the best eater but we can usually talk you into eating anything if we bribe you enough.

You can spell your name, write it on a good day.  Count to 20. Know your ABCs. Can break into anything that is "Child proof". You love to jump ramps on your bike and stand on the seat and do all kinds of other tricks. 

Milam, I love you so much. Or, as you would say, "I love you the most the most!" You are the most beautiful boy I have ever seen and I can't wait to see what you do with that busy mind of yours.  Big things I'm sure.  I wouldn't expect any less.

Milam at Three

Oh my goodness.  My bittiest boy is THREE! Time needs to slow down because I could just eat him up.  He is the absolute cutest.  Baby Barrett has some big shoes to fill ;)

This boy is just so sweet.  A momma's boy all the way but he'll always take a snuggle from sister and daddy.  "Nuggles" are one of his favorite things.  He even fakes getting hurt just so he can be rescued and get a good "nuggle".  Some more of his favorite people, Uncle Travis, his cousin Cooper, our neighbor John Mark, and a friend from church named Kennedy.  He likes being around all of the guys and doing boy stuff but is just as happy to play at home with Georgia and her friends too.

You love cars and trucks and anything that has an engine or wheels.  You want to help your daddy fix everything but don't like loud noises.  You take toy cars with you every where you go and love picking out which stuffed animals (babies) you're going to sleep with that night.

You don't like wearing JonJons (wearing one in these photos), taking potty breaks, sharing with your sister, trying new foods (mainly veggies), saying bye, having dad put you down for bed, and being locked out of our rooms.

You can spell your name, semi count to 12, refuse to learn your ABC's or colors but know a few car brands though, can ride a two wheeled bike, sit in time out correctly like a good little boy, and are about 95% of the way potty trained (both day time and sleeping times).  You talk all the time.  Constantly.  You are missing a lot of letter sounds so I'm taking you in for a speech evaluation next week

You still sleep about 12 hours a night.  From about 7:30 to 7:30.  You also take a good nap during the day.  I put you down at 12:30 and most days have to wake you up at 2:30 to go get your sister at school. On the weekends you'll sleep longer but I can't let you sleep in with school drop off and pick up.  You're in 3t clothes, 4t JonJons and pajamas, and a size 9 shoes. You start school on September 3rd for the first time ever.  Fingers crossed you handle it well.

You are 35.8 pounds (86%) and is 38.9 inches tall (74%)

You are so funny and keep us all laughing all the time. I wish I could just bottle up your funny little personality. Everyone who meets you loves you...even if you don't love them.  You have some stranger danger fears but they go away pretty quickly.

Milam, we adore you.  It's been a wild three years with you.  You're a ball of energy and can't image life without you!  Happy THIRD year!

Milam at Two Years {2018}

John Milam Powell,

I cannot even put into words the joy you have brought into our lives.  You bring a smile to the face of every single person you meet.  The mother son bond you always hear about is so very real and I can hardly write this post because I'm getting so emotional just thinking about how much I love you.  You are my bitty boy, brother bear, sweet boy and I love every little bit of you.  Even the fiery bit.  It took us so long to get you and I've never felt a contentment in my life like I felt the moment I held you for the first time.  Like I could breathe again and I instantly felt lighter.  Goodness baby boy, you have changed our life for the better.  We love you so much.

You grow and learn so many new things everyday that I can hardly keep up. (I'll be honest, you're no where near where your sister was academically but it's ok, boy and girls, first and second child, there is just so much difference.) On a good day you can tell me A, B, C, and D.  You can count to two which is really funny because that's barely counting but it's a start!  Every color to you is black but every now and then you'll throw out the correct color.  I'm amazed at how well you can pronounce "Yellow".  You can't say your R's and have a hard time with hard C sounds.  You've started talking in three word sentences but it's still mostly two.  "Georgia fast!"  "Momma! Stop it!"  "Georgia, hold hand."  "Momma, help!"  Some examples of the things you say most often.  Your little voice is just so cute.

You are very coordinated.  You're learning to swim and doing really well.  You can get about half the width of your swim teacher's pool but you won't float to catch your breath so then you just sink.  If you think about it you can pedal your little tricycle and I think when we get you a balance bike that fits you that you'll take off on it and will probably learn how to ride a regular bike in no time.  You've always blown me away with your fine and gross motor skills...I thought your sister was advanced in that area but you blew her out of the water.  Not that it's a competition but it is fun to see how similar and different y'all are.  

You are still rocking some pretty strong separation anxiety but I've just come to terms with it and it doesn't bother me.  I know you will never need me as much as you do right now, you will never again be as little as you are now, and every day I'm just one day closer to you not needing me so I'm just cherishing it while it lasts.  You still fall asleep on us every nap and every bedtime and I just lay there with you enjoying the snuggles.  Maybe we baby you too much but you're my baby.  You go into church great.  You were doing great towards the end of MOPS.  You get upset when I leave you at my mom's but I think it's because you go over there so often.  My mom says it lasts a few seconds and then you're off and running.

You are sleeping about 12 hours at night and taking a 2-3 hour nap during the day.  Bedtime is from 7-7:30 and nap time is 12 or 12:30.  You are in 2t or 3t and size 8 shoes.  You weigh 30.6 lbs and are 36.25 in tall which is the 89% and the 95%.  Growing boy.

You love anything that goes or has wheels.  Your favorites are buses and Jeeps.  You also love bulldozers, airplanes, helicopters, bikes, four wheelers, and motorcycles.  Most of these things close up terrify you and you don't like the loud noises they make but your whole world is playing with your cars.  It's so funny.  You love your sister so much and love all your stuffed animals.  You're so sweet and love to pet our dog Penny (Menny) and cat.  You're really good at your animal sounds.

Milam, I love you so much! I can't remember our lives without you!  The past two years have been two of the best!  My favorite bitty boy!

Milam - 23 Months

Here's my little buddy at 23 months!

Not gushing too much about him right now and I'll save it for his TWO YEAR post next month.  I just can't believe it!

Milam - 22 Months

Oh my sweet boy you keep me on my toes and I love every little bit of you.  I smother you in kisses all day, your dad and I fight over who gets to hold you, and your sister fights for your attention - she just loves you so much.  You're a family favorite for sure and I cannot fathom a cuter baby boy.  Your dad says you're almost 2 but when asked I say you're one...because you still are.  I walked past our full length mirror the other day and glimpsed myself holding you and although you feel like my baby, my bitty boy, while I'm holding you, the reality is that you are more toddler than baby and I was so surprised how huge you looked with me holding you.  Your dad thinks you should be our last baby and while I would love to add another to the family I can't imagine you not being my baby.  I'm not sure if I want another because, I just want another or if I want another to re do all my mess ups with you and your sister.  I have a hard time remembering my mom wins and constantly replay all my failures.  Know little boy that I mess up, and will always mess up, but I always love you and I was always trying my best. (Even if I yell when I shouldn't)

Your sleep has over all been really good this month.  2-3 hour naps and 11-13 hours at night.  No teething, no huge growth spurts, just trucking along like normal.  You love cars and JEEPS even more than you did last month.  You don't want to have anything to do with colors, or letters, or numbers, or shapes.  You just want to drive your matchbox cars all over my body and all over the house and make car noises or run and jump.  You are so so funny.  Your speech isn't the best but I can usually figure out what you mean.  You know all of your body parts and the differences between all types of vehicles.  You love being on the go and playing outside.  Anytime we leave the house you grab as many cars as you can and yell, "come on Georgia, come on!"  It's so cute and funny.

Milam - 21 Months

Milam, you are such a little stinker.  A sour patch kid for sure.  You are so cute and so lovable and so funny that you make me want another one just like you.  On the other hand you are so exhausting and make me feel so done.  Sour patch or not we love you more than we could ever describe.

You've slept really good this month and really bad.  Your last incisor came in so you should level out.  You're eating a TON of meat and cheese right now...and berries.  You even gobbled down broccoli the other night.  YAY!

Diapers are size 6.  Clothes are 2T.  Shoes are 8.5 or 9.  You weigh somewhere around 30 pounds.

You've started to hoard lovies.  You currently have three.  Bunny, dog, and cat.  We don't let you sleep with cat because he's your sisters.  You love anything outside and love your bike that you just push around.

Still a momma's boy but are becoming more equal opportunity which is so nice on my arms.  You still adore your sister and really like all her friends as well.

You are your sister are so different is so many ways and alike in so many ways. You're talking more and more and becoming easier for me to understand although most people probably don't.  While your sister was fairly articulate at this age you are not.  We still let you go potty before your bath at night.  You don't show a lot of interest to build upon that.

I love you my silly boy!

Milam - 20 Months

Milam, you are inching your way towards two and I die a little inside every month.

Milam are you ready to go night night?

Nigh Nigh

(lays his head on my chest and pats his own back)

Momma bobo!

Mwah!

Ewww Yucky!

(when he tried to kiss my unshaved legs)

"Y'all get out!"

Momma, I wuv wou!

You're always hungry.  You aren't sleeping amazing.  Your schedule is the same as always.  I don't know your weight or height.  You are in a 6 diaper and 2t in most things.  I think you are in an 8 shoe.  You talk all the time.  You still sound muffled but we do pretty good in communicating what you want...sometimes.

You are always dirty and covered in food, dirt, and drool.  Speaking of drool, you are getting your last incisor so you nearly have 16 teeth.  You love playing outside and playing with your sister and all the other big kids.  You so badly want to keep up with them.

You love playing with cars, reading books, stacking things, looking at processes and doing them over and over...like dumping things out of his dump truck.  Loves to climb and jump and copy any thing anyone else in the house is doing.  I jump and you jump.  I run and you run.  Dad cook and then you cook.

You love motorcycles but they terrify you.  Really any loud noise scares you.  You're kind of a momma's boy.  You don't like being away from me.  You don't like goodbyes.  You know all your extended family members names and look forward to them coming over.  You are more drawn towards girls which is no doubt because of me and your sister which is who you spend most of your time with.  You can be such a grumpy old man.  Most of which comes from you wanting everything we have.  You don't want a sippy cup.  You want our cups.  You get mad when we tell you no and throw little fits.  It is super frustrating for all involved.  Also, you get frustrated because we can't always tell what you're saying so sometimes me get even more fits because you can't get across what you want to say.  Life is hard.

You're such a fun and quirky little guy.  We love every little bit of you sweet, bitty boy!

Milam - 19 Months

Here is Milam in all his hot mess glory at 19 months old.

Notable:
At 18 months you were 29.8 pounds (96.6 %) and around 18.5 months you were 34.5 inches (95.9 %)
You got your first eye tooth on the top so you now have 13 teeth.  The other three are close behind.
Your vocabulary is growing.  While you aren't super articulate you have a lot of words you can say and even more that you understand.  You're very clingy and in a huge momma phase which has to do with allergies and teething I'm pretty sure.  You are mainly in 2T but can sometimes wear 18-24 months.

Sleeping and eating:
You are sleeping really well despite the teeth and drainage.  Still your usual 12 hours at night and about three hours for a nap.  You go to bed at 7 or 7:30 and nap at 12 or 12:30.  You aren't eating a ton right now because you just aren't super chipper and your mouth seems to be hurting and you still don't care for green foods.

You like:
Being outside.  Toys that go.  Toys that roll.  Cars and trucks and motorcycles and airplanes.  Any type of ball.  All animals.

You dislike:
Being told NO.  Not being able to do what big kids do.  Mom not being around.

Milam - 18 Months

Happy 18 months my sweet baby boy!  Here are a few notable things for this month.

You can...

open doors

open child proof cabinets

use chairs to get anything in the entire house

do front rolls

jump on the trampoline

run surprisingly fast

Newish words:

Bird

Help

More

Bible

Sorry

Love you

Oh no!

Routine:

You go to bed between 7 and 7:30 and wake up from 6:30 to 7:30.  You typically sleep 11.5-12 hours at night.  You have milk when you wake up in the morning and before your nap and then when you wake up and before bed.  The rest of the day is water.  You like all fruit and meat and anything sweet and eat a pretty good breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  You like your routine and run to your room yelling, "nigh nigh" when you hear your sound machine turn on.  You take a nap at 12 and sleep 2.5 to 3 hours.  On most days you sleep two hours and forty five minutes or more.

About you:

You are literally so full of life.  I have never met anyone more enthusiastic about life.  You will not eat anything green 95% of the time.  It is super frustrating but we're working on it.  You don't cry when dropped off for the nursery or MOPS anymore.  You can be kind of clingy and like to be held.  Three of your molars are all the way in but your last one has popped through so you now have 12 teeth. TMI but you still don't have "solid" poop.  It's soft about 80% of the time.  Sorry dude but I just wanted to write it down.  I feel like it has to do with your boycott on veggies.  You love your sister and your dad.  You hate goodbyes.  Love bath time and being outside.  You'll sometimes sit on the potty and "tee tee" before your bath. You love any sort of ball, cats, trucks, and cars.

Sweet boy, I love you so much and love watching you grow up!

Milam - 17 Months

Short and sweet post for my sweet 17 month old. 
(I actually wrote this yesterday but I had to take the pictures today.  You were pretty cranky yesterday, but all is well today!)

As of today you are eating and sleeping like a champ.  12 hours or more at night and three hour naps.  Don't know your sizes.  You are taller but are starting to look like you're thinning out.  You try to say everything we do.  You got another molar today so now you have three molars total.  One more to go.  Yay!  This morning you were acting fussy so I felt your gums and it hadn't come in yet.  Today you woke up 30 minutes into your nap and I felt and it had come through.  You went back to sleep with little fuss after Tylenol and Oragel.

You love to run and jump, ride your "bike", play with your sister, climb, and talk.  Toys you can sit on or push seem to be your favorites.  You love to "help" your dad cook dinner.  You really like your routine and don't fight it.  If we say, "let's go night night" then you will run in your room, grab your milk, and climb into your chair with a book.  We obviously think you're just the smartest.

Milam - 16 Months

Happy 16 months beautiful boy! I can't believe we are on our way to a year and a half!

Right at 15 months you got your 8th tooth.  The front bottom one.  The next day you got tooth number 9.  Your first molar.  You're working really hard on the pair for that molar too.

Last month you were 28 pounds which is the 97th percentile for weight.

On 12.13.17 you were 33.5 inches tall which is the 98th percentile for height.
Most conversations about your age end with, "yes, he is very big for his age."  You're in the same sizes that you were last month.

When you cut your 8th tooth you fell back into a good sleep pattern at night with 12 hours solid.  Then, your molars started coming in and you were back to 11.  I would say it isn't an issue but you're cranky about it and clearly missing that hour.  Currently you go back and fourth between 12-11 hours at night and 2-3 hour naps.

You fully understand most sentences pertaining to food:
Do you want bites
Do you want a snack
Are you ready to eat
Do you want chocolate (!!!)

Oh my goodness you have the BIGGEST personality and the BIGGEST attitude!  You are so cute so that saves you.  You yell NOOOO! We are currently trying time out.  You give the sweetest smile and look up to us and say HI!  You've started giving me the biggest bear hugs (not just your sister) and it is the best thing ever.  You wrap your arms and legs around me and squeeze tight and pat me on the back.  It is so sweet.

You love fruit, meat, sweets, and carbs.  I'm always working on your veggies.  Currently you'll eat broccoli and I think that's it...besides beans (not green beans but regular ones).  You want whatever we have.  You always want what your sister has.  You think you're big just like her.

You love your tricycle, going fast down hills, any toy that is car or ball related, being chased, and talking all the time.  You like to be held and carried around.  You climb on everything in sight and throw big fits when we get you down.  You don't like being told no.

You know too many words for me to list and you try to say everything we do.  You love Christmas more than any child I have ever known.  Which is fitting because I found out I was pregnant on Christmas day.  You "oh" and "ahh" over all the lights and yell, "LIGHTS!" and "WOW!" when you see them.  It is adorable.